Bayern refuse to release Ribery for French hearing

Bayern Munich will not release France forward Franck Ribery for a disciplinary hearing by the French Football Federation to probe his alleged role in the team's World Cup revolt, the German champions said on Monday.

Bayern Munich will not release France forward Franck Ribery for a disciplinary hearing by the French Football Federation to probe his alleged role in the team's World Cup revolt, the German champions said on Monday.

Ribery is one of five France players summoned by the FFF. The hearing is scheduled for August 17, three days before the start of the new season.

“Under FIFA rules, clubs are forced to release their players only for set dates on the international calendar,” Bayern said in a statement. “It is not the case here and for that reason, FC Bayern Munich will not make Franck Ribery available for that hearing,” it added.

Ribery was a prominent member of the France team who boycotted a training session in South Africa in support of striker Nicolas Anelka, banished from the squad for insulting coach Raymond Domenech.

Evra keen to play despite sanctions

French defender Patrice Evra, facing sanctions for leading a player revolt at the World Cup, does not understand why he should be punished and wants to wear his country's colours again.

World Cup-winning fullback and now FFF official Lilian Thuram believes Evra should never play for France again.

“I am surprised because I had the impression everybody wanted to turn the World Cup page,” Evra told French daily Le Figaro on Monday.

“We need to think about the future. Why sanction us (the five players summoned) more than others?”

Laurent Blanc, who has since taken over from Domenech as coach, opted to leave out all 23 members of the World Cup squad for France's next match, a friendly against Norway in Oslo on Wednesday.

Following that match, however, the suspended players will be free to return to the squad and Evra is confident of a recall.

“I can't see my future without the France team,” he said.

Inter to keep Maicon, cool on Mascherano

Inter Milan have halted talks with Real Madrid about selling Maicon and the chances of Liverpool's Javier Mascherano joining the European champions look remote, club president Massimo Moratti said on Monday.

New Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who guided Inter to an unprecedented Italian treble last term, was keen to take Brazil rightback Maicon with him to the Bernabeu but a deal has not been reached despite weeks of discussions.

“Personally I consider him such a good player that maybe I've decided not to sell him,” Moratti said. “I have pulled the player out of any transfer talks.”